When all is Lost.

[Leera]

“Lerexa! Come here, girl. Dinner is ready.”
Lerexa came running as her mother shouted. “What is for dinner, mummy?”
The mother patted her daughter on the head, smiling down to her. “Meatballs honey.”
The little girl brightened as she rushed inside, feasting on the meatballs.
An explosion startled the eating family. “John. Go check what it is.”
Nodding, he stood up, and went outside.
“What is going on mummy?” Lerexa’s voice held a fraction of fear.
“Nothing darling, daddy will be back soon.”
Screams erupted from the outside. Rushing to the window, Lerexa’s jaw dropped in fear. Dozens of men, all whom which she knew, were fighting. Their eyes were red, bloodlust lighting in them, as they clawed on each other with unusually long claws. Their hair was thin, their skin pale. Fangs erupted from their mouths. A hand over her eyes blocked Lerexa’s vision. “Come on honey.”
Lerexa was dragged to the second floor by her mother, her hand shaking in fear.
“Be good girl, darling, and wait right here. I will be right back” She said as she locked the door behind her. “Mummy. Please, don’t leave me here alone.” Lerexa shouted at the closed door. Screams of pain and sounds of men feasting on flesh roamed the outside. Bursting out in tears, Lerexa hid under a table, hiding her face behind her knees. Trembling, she sat there, waiting for mummy and daddy to return.
Suddenly, silence took the place into its embrace.
Peering out from her knees, Lerexa saw the door open. Lerexa almost left her hiding place, as she recognized her mother. Fear struck her when she got a better look at her. Her once long thick blonde hair was reduced to a thin grayish color. Lerexa could see the lust for blood in her red eyes.
Her skin was thin and pale, bones protruding from her elbows and knees.
Her empty, dead gaze settled at Lerexa.
Screaming, Lerexa backed up against the wall. “Mummy. Mummy what are you doing?”
Not answering, her mother slowly moved closer. “Mummy. Please. Don’t hurt me. I love you!” She screamed at her mother, tears of sorrow and anger rolling down her cheek.
Heartbroken that her mother’s soul had been taken, Lerexa felt her mother’s pain. Her sorrow was for her. A rage built up inside her heart, longing for revenge for those who took her mother away. Her anger was for them.
Lerexa shed a few more tears, these caused by the grief of knowing what she had to do.
Reaching her hand behind a wooden plate, her small, innocent hands clutched the hilt of a knife. “Mummy, please, I beg you don’t do this. Don’t become like them! I know you can hear me! I know you are in there. Mummy! Please!” Yet more tears trickled down her face. Tears of anger, sorrow and helplessness.
Now, her mother was merely inches away, her long nails clawing at her clothes. She opened her mouth, huge fangs showing as she pulled herself closer. Shedding one last tear, Lerexa plunged the knife into her mother. Her gaze showed no sign of pain. At least there was that, Lerexa thought. Her mother tore desperately at her clothes.
Pulling the knife free, Lerexa stabbed once more, slashing across her windpipe.
Choking on her own blood, Lerexa’s mother fell to the ground, rolling from side to side.
Clutching her mother’s shirt, Lerexa kneeled, crying intensely. She had no idea how long she lay there, all she knew was that day turned to night, and night turned to day.
Staring at the massacred corpse that was once her mother, Lerexa stood up. She had to be strong. She was ten years old. She was a big girl.
With that thought, she ventured downstairs, the bloodstained knife still in her hands.
Nervousness hit her as the door creaked open. Hiding inside a closet, she heard footsteps.
Grunts came from outside. She was afraid her heavy breathing would expose her. Glass broke as they fell to the floor. Peeking out a small hole, she saw her father and the mayor, and some other from her town. They didn’t look human though. They looked like walking corpses. Knowing that they could be in here for hours, she rushed out from the closet, and sprinted out the door, heading for nowhere special. All she knew was that she needed to get out of the town. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her. Panic grabbed her, pulling her into darkness, whispering promises of death. Shutting it out, Lerexa ran. A man stumbled out of a door in front of her, his throat half eaten. He grunted in agony as he choked on his own blood. Another of the ex town people staggered out the door after him, leaping onto him, settling his claws and fangs into his flesh. As Lerexa ran on, she thought that they all reminded her of zombies. But mummy had said that zombies only existed in stories.
She screamed out loud as someone grabbed her, pulling her into a dark alley.
Clapping his hands over her mouth, the man urged her to be silence. As she saw he wasn’t a zombie, she complied.
“Be silent, girl, don’t let them hear us.” He whispered as he removed his hand.
Trembling, Lerexa looked up at him, her eyes revealing intense fear.
“What are they?” Lerexa asked, hardly able to force the words forth.
“Demons from hell” The sincerity in his voice only scared her further.
They sat in the dark alley, darkness enveloping them as they watched in terror the remaining human assaulted by the supernatural creatures.
Lerexa’s heart pounded with fear, but her eyes would give no more tears. Her hands trembled as she embraced the stranger, the only one she could depend on for protection.
Thousands of zombies wandered purposelessly around the town, their eyes shining with lust for more blood. Occasionally, they would stop for a moment to lick blood off the ground or the houses. Hoarse screams erupted from their throats as they frantically searched for blood. Their rotten noses sniffed the ears, eager to settle their fangs and claws into their helpless prey.
“Come. We can linger no more. We must move before they find us.” The man was cloaked in dark capes and robes, leaving him nearly invisible in the shadows of the dark alley. Grabbing Lerexa, the man swung her over his shoulder as he broke out in a run.
Zombies instantly followed them, their gaze settled on the fresh blood. Their rotten, untiring legs carried them far faster than the man holding Lerexa. “They are too fast. They will catch us.” Despair and desperation grabbed Lerexa as she watched in terror as her worst nightmare approached them. “Be brave. Have faith, and we will escape. What is your name, young girl?”
“Lerexa” She almost had to scream for her words to be carried through the strong wind that tried to force them back to the embrace of the demons from hell.
“Lerexa.” The man tasted the word. “A beautiful name. I’m Laine. Normally I’d shake your hand, but I don’t think this is the right time.”
Had it not been for the situation they were in, Lerexa would have laughed. Surprise took her as Laine tripped over a stone. Lerexa was thrown off his shoulder, landing painfully on her back, the wind knocked from her lungs. She watched in terror as the zombies leaped upon Laine, trying to rip him apart. With a deafening roar, Laine shot to his feet, a huge, shiny sword in his hands. Lerexa thought the blade beautiful. Inscriptions in gold were woven into the hilt of the sword. The blade glimmered faintly in the dim moonlight. The sword whistled through the air as Laine swung it with immense force, taking the zombies apart, limb by limb. A gush of green liquid erupted from the headless zombies, covering Laine. The headless zombies, still refusing to die, waved their hands, trying to settle their claws in him. Laine jabbed his sword, the sharp point slamming into the chest of a zombie, silencing it. Massacred corpses lay all over the ground, blood, and green liquid covering them. Yet more zombies approached. “Run Lerexa! Run!”
Lerexa didn’t want to leave. This man had saved her life. Mummy always told her that when someone did you a favor, you must return it. But how? She was no match to these ferocious demons. Suddenly, she got an idea. Breaking into a sprint, she dashed back into the city.
“No!” Laine shouted after her as he cut down zombies. A claw scratched his forearm, causing him to scream in pain.
His vision went blurry, his sword arm numb, as he relentlessly slashed through the never ending hordes of walking dead. When he thought the end was approaching, a huge burning barrel crashed into the zombies, ripping them apart instantly. The walking corpses desperately tried to put out the fire. Turning, Laine watched in surprise as another barrel crashed into the zombies. Past the barrels, he spotted a smiling, young girl.
The barrels clashed into houses, setting them afire.
“You are a very smart girl” Laine said as he patted her on the head. “We must hurry. We have to get out of here.”
Nodding, they sprinted towards the gates of the town, both of them only too eager to reach it.
Before they reached it, however, hundreds of hungry zombies appeared their long claws and fangs longing to settle in their flesh. Hoarse roars escaped their rotten throats, sending a shiver down Lerexa’s spine. Goosebumps appeared on her body as the zombies surrounded them. Surprisingly, more tears rolled down her cheek. She thought she couldn’t cry again.

[Leera]

"I was once like you. Mortal. Alive. But one day I became something more." A wicked smile spread across his face. He looked at the men chained to the wall. "Soon, I will no longer be the only one. You will join me. All the preparations have been made."
The man stood mute, their eyes revealing their immense terror. They knew not even death could save them.
"You will serve me in an eternity."


His sword flashed through the air, cutting a mans the throat. The man clutched his throat, blood spluttering from it. He gurgled as he choked on his own blood.
Meraniel thrust his sword into another mans chest before the first one fell. He dodged an incoming blow, and as he rose, he thrust his blade into his groin.
The man screamed in agony as he fell to the ground.
Smoke arose from the city as it burned. What had once been a magnificent city of white marble had been changed to a ruin of a city, the walls and buildings that still stood black with ash. The stench of sweat and death hung in the air.
Meraniel retreated as dozens of men sprinted towards him, battle cries erupting from them as they rose their weapons high, longing for blood and death.
Leaping onto a wall, Meraniel unsheated his bow in one swift motion. He nocked an arrow and sent it flying into a mans throat. Before the first arrow had landed, another was in the air. Arrows flew with immense speed, cutting down a dozen men in a few moments.
Retreating further into the city, Meraniel and the rest of his men barred themself inside the palace.
Panting, Meraniel rested his hands on his knees, catching his breath.
Turning to his men, Meraniels eyes shone with sorrow.
"Soldiers of Ashingnot. You have fought bravely. But it has all been in vain. Moments from now, this door will crumble. And they will kill us all."
Silence roamed the palace for a moment, as the men took in the meaning of his word. "But. I know that every last one of you will fight untill there is no life left in you. They may outnumber us but they cannot match our skill. I say, before we die we give them hell." He clapped his fist to his heart in a salute." A rhythmical 'thud' echoed through the room as the men gave their salute.

"I was terrified. Terrified at the thought of death. Which is knew was inevitable. Terror took me into its embrace, whispering promises of death.
Only after I was dead I saw how pathetic I have been. I only feared greater power. So you see, you have nothing to fear." His icy glare penetrated them, making them shiver. They stood chained to the wall, desperately pulling at them, trying to get free. He laughed at their pitiful attepmt. "There is nothing you can do. You will serve me in an eternity."


As the gates crumled, Meraniel charged forward, thrusting his sword into a mans chest. He advanced, slicing two men across the throat.
Battlecries, and cries of pain ehcoed through the palace as hundreds of men rushed through the gate, eager for blood.
Meraniel watched as his men were cut down. They were now less than a dozen against several hundred.
Determined to lower the odds, Meraniel charged again.
Swords clashed with sword, the noise of metal erupting from the fighting men. Axes glanced of shields as men fought to death.
Something slammed into the back of Meraniel's head, knocking him to his knees. His vision went blurry, his world darkening. A lance thrusted into his back, the point protruding from his chest. He gasped in agony, the pain rushing through his body like a thunderbolt. A jolt of pain shut up in his arm as a mace shattered the bones.
He drew his last few breaths, and then eternal darkness swallowed him. At least he thought.

The small, cold room was furnitured only by a wooden bench, on which he lay. The dark loom was litted only by a small lantern on the other side of his cell. "Ah so you are awake. At last. The master has been eager for results.
You should know that you are the first on ever to be reanimated."
The man smiled in satisfaction at the results. "Oh, perhaps you would like a mirror?"
Two guards came, carrying a big mirror.
Meraniel's heart leaped up into his throat as he watched himself.
His ribs, kneecaps, elbows and chest had lost all its skin, bones protruded from his body. He had a pale grey color. His eyes, once green and shining with life, had turned to a dead grey color.
He was a walking corpse.
"No. Impossible."
"Not anymore" The man replied. "You should be happy. Now, you have more powers than you ever did in life."
"What.. Powers?" Meraniel asked, a part of him eager to learn.
The man smiled wickedly. "You will find out soon enough."


"When I died, at first, I had no idea how powerfull I was. But I quickly discovered. I am doing you a favour. I am granting you power beyond any mortal creatures. Perhaps you should thank me?"
The men stood terrified, giving each other looks.
Meraniel swiped his hands in the air, a bolt of shadow erupted from his fingertips. The man stared in terror as the bolt shot into a man. The man screamed in agony, his body shaking uncontrolled.
Meraniel smiled wickedly as the men murmured their apology.
"Your previous life is over. You will serve me in an eternity."



Meraniel followed Larax, as he had found out was the man's name.
They walked through a dark, damp cave. A few torches lit the narrow passage.
"Where are we going?" Meraniel asked, curiously.
As they rounded a corner, Meraniel got his answer. Infront of him was a fighting pit. Ten armed men, in full mail armor, stood at the oposite side.
Larax handed Meraniel a rusty short sword.
"Kill them" He simply said as he walked back into the cave.
The men at the opposite side sprinted towards him, shouting battlecries and waving their weapons as they ran.
with a shrug, Meraniel charged at them.
His legs hardly touched the ground as he ran far faster than he had ever before.
Meraniel ducked under an incoming blow, and as he rose, plunged his rusty sword into his chest. He spun around and cut two mens throat with inhuman speed. He launched himself upon the remaining men. In one swift fluid motion, he cut down three more men. The remaining four took a few steps backward, worried about his inhuman attributes.
Using the opening, Meraniel leaped high into the air, cutting of the head of one man as he landed.
The trio charged at him.
He parried the blows effortlessly, and countered slicing a mans chest open, and taking off an arm of another.
The man who lost his swordarm fell to his knees, withering in agony.
The last man turned an ran. Meraniel leaped, landing onto his back, sending them both flying to the ground. Meraniel, sitting upon his adversary plunged his sword into his back.
As he rose, Meraniel spun and threw his sword.
The tip of the rusty blade sheathed itself into the man with severed arm in the neck. He slammed face-first onto the ground.

"You did well." Larax said as he approached him. "Now, for the next lesson. Please, follow me."

[Leera]

The man stood, his hand clutching a poorly made wooden spear, the tip of it covered in blood. At his feet lay the massacred body of a beast. The beast reminding him of a huge raptor. Its claws and fangs were huge, longing to settle in his flesh. A hoarse roar reverberated through the stone cave as two more of the beasts appeared.
Terrified, the man raised his spear, helding it tight with shaking hands.
The beast lunged upon him. The spear hit one beneath the ribs, but the other leaped at him, digging its fangs into his shoulder. A scream of agony escaped his throat. The claws digged deeper into his shoulder, another scream of pain as it hit the bone. The raptor glared at him, then sunk its fangs into his neck. Blood spluttered out of the halg-eaten throat. His eyes stared at the wall, his grey eyes empty of all life.
The raptor feasted, eating the whole man in a matter of minutes.

The screams of the man were louder now. She was close. She unsheathed her bow, nocking an arrow. She had no idea what made that man scream like the Fallen One himself tortured him. Arrow nocked, she proceeded cautiously, ready to release the arrow at any time. A cave appeared beyond a hill, a trail of blood on the outside. Crouching, she ran for the entrance, bow at the ready. A huge raptor-like creature was in the cave, feasting at the dead body of a man. The stench of exposed flesh and death hung in the air, assaulting her nostrils. The raptor, suddenly aware it was being watched, turned. The huge fangs were filled with blood, a hungry look litting in its eye.
She released the arrow, hitting the raptor right between its eyes, dropping it instantly. Hoarse roars surrounded her, a flock of the beasts coming closer.
She nocked another arrow, and unleashed it, slamming into a jaw, sending him to the ground, rolling this way and that, blood spluttering for its mouth. In a second, they were upon her, ripping her to the ground, trying to get their fangs past her arms, held in a defensive position. A fang digged itself into her thigh, making her scream in pain. A claw scratched her across the back, the wound stinging as if it was filled with salt. A fang, or a claw, she didnt know, pierced her ear. Screams of agony escaped her throat, but her begs for a quick death did not.
The raptors bit and clawed her, eating her alive. She saw on of them ripping a piece of flesh off her stomach. The sight was even worse than the pain. Her eyelids nearly closed, her world soon going black. "Oh please, let me die. Just let me die" She thought to herself as claws and fangs feasted on her flesh.

[Leera]

The storm rose to full heigths, filling the sails of the boat with wind, causing it to sway forth and back, the wood creaking with every move. Rain streamed down in thick waves of icy water, harshly caressing the ship. The men fought furiously against the wind, forcing themselves onward, cutting roaps, trying to bring the sails down before the wind ripped them apart, before the storm threw the boat on its side. Men screamed, but the sound was nothing but a faded noise against the merciless torrent of water and wind, twisted together into a killing machine. Men fell overboard as the boat swayed from one side to another.
People clung desperately to each other, but one by one they were torn from their loved ones, taken by this merciless enemy and thrown into the ice cold water. It was as if the storm and the water worked together. The storm would grip them in its deadly embrace, heave them ruthlessly overboard, where the water would grab them, drown them in its waves of icy water, slowly pull them down towards the bottom, where they would join the endless mass of skeletons and shipwrecks. Sailing through The Eye, was dangerous, lethal, and was done only by those who sought death, those who had nothing to lose, or those who had no other path to their destination. The storm was easing slightly, but the wind still pulled at peoples hair, still ripped at their cloths, still heaved the ship from side to side, still knocked people senseless with its power.

«Take my hand!» The frightening voice soon faded, stolen by the wind. «Jessica!» He screamed again, and once more his voice faded into the heavy storm. He grabbed her slender hand, watched the golden ring on her hand, the ring he had given her but a day ago. He shoved the thought that he might never see her again to the back of his head. Slowly, painfully, he could feel his grip failing, her fingers desperatly scratching his palm. «Michael. Please, don't let go.» She turned her head, watched the huge waves of water slamming down into the ship, dragging men down to the bottom, suffocating them slowly as they struggled to reach the surface. Fear glowed brightly in her hazel eyes, but behind the fear, also understanding. She felt the grip failing, and knew what fate had in mind for her. «I love you, Michael. I always will. Nothing will change that, not even death.» She shouted through the wind, and by the look in his eyes, she knew he had heard her.

Michael screamed in frustration, in sorrow, in grief, in anger as his grip failed, and he watched the love of his life being consumed by the water, watched her body dragged down into the merciless darkness of the abyss-like bottom. He storm slowly faded, the wind stopped and the raining ceased. The water again took on its alluring, translucent blue color. But he would not be fooled. He knew the true face on the monster on which they sailed. He stood up, letting the grief overwhelm him, letting the sorrow drown him, the guilt overtake him, the anger consume him. The sun appeared from behind the skies, bathing the wrecked ship in warm sunlight. The sails was raised again, and the horrors of The Eye was put behind them. But as was so many lifes, so many good men, and women, so many souls that people cared for. Now, they all rested with the Keeper. Rumours had it, that the power that resided within The Eye, was not natural. Some said, the Dark Necromancers had found away to abuse its power, to use for their own advantage, to unleash it upon those unfortunate to venture into their domain. If this was indeed so, the Necromancers would pay